Apparatus for treating liquids



July 25, '1939. GRAYMOND 2,167,160

APPARATUS FOR TREATING LIQUIDS Filed June 22, 1936 5 Sheets-Shet 1 2e 28 i l x 3/ 37 3 VINVENTOR 5 GW 002 a mono" J BY y July 25, 1939. G. RAYMOND APPARATUS FOR TREATING L IQUIDS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 22, 1936 INVENTOR 60/? BY aria,

ATTONEY July 25, 1939. s. RAYMOND 2,157,160

APPARATUS FOR TREATING LIQUIDS Filed June 22, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 W ml. ll ll ll ,8 I HIIIIII HI HH M 'm- 11111 w "5 Will 4, WLH 37 i 5 INVENTOR 76 ATToiQNEY July 25, 1939.

' G. RAYMOND APPARATUS FOR TREATING LIQUIDS Filed June 22, 1936 I 8 5H9. 2 /7 Z/ I max-,-

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WI I 4(7 m l 7 II I Q 6 INVENTOR ATTORNEY July 25, 1939. s. RAYMOND 2,167,160

APPARATUS FOR TREATING LIQUIDS Filed June 22, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR J i, ATTORNEY Hill "Hlif' B I 9 4 84 6 06:. W M W% M Md d I m 6 n .w 3 .1, -l- I 1 6 f6 a 6 I 4 7 u u 3 4 iil nl M H 4 llll. lhh U h n H h N i w l fii [|ll\ v: 1 uPP' VII 9 a W 9 w j 9 a.

6 J M u 0 Fatenteci J l 25, i939 u lTEn- STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR. TREATING LIQU S Gwynne Raymond, Oklahoma City, Okla.

Application June 22, 1936, Serial No. 86,533

z Claims. (Cl. res-2.1)

heater end of the treating chamber, particularly This invention relates to apparatus for treating liquids, particularly flowing liquids such as those discharged from an oil well and which usually consist of a mixture of oil and water, or an oil and water emulsion combined with gas.

When the flow is in the form of emulsion it is necessary to break the emulsion in order to free the oil and this is accomplishedby discharging the oil flow into a separating and treating apparatuswherein the gas is liberated'and the emulsion broken up by the action of heat, usually in conjunction with a chemical, the liberated gas being utilized asa fuel for supplying the necessary heat. Where gas occurs in'abundance along with oil, fuel economy is negligible, but in many cases'only a small quantity of gas is present with the oil and in such instances it is necessary that the fuel be used sparingly to avoid the requirement of additional fuel from an outside source.

It is, therefore, a principal object of the present invention to provide an apparatus of this character wherein the liquid is entirely freed from gas prior to, heating and the gas is efliciently utilized in heating the liquid to aid in breaking the emulsion.

It is also an object of the invention to provide liberating chamber to the treating chamber so as to eliminate any gas that might be driven off incidental to heat applied in the treating chamber, thereby preventing gas liberation which would interfere with settlement of the liquids;

and to provide means for positively holding back all of the vapor from the gas outlet line.

' In accomplishing these and other objects o1 the invention, 1 have provided improved details of structure, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a flow treating and separating apparatus embodying the features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view through the apparatus on the line 2-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail fragmentary section. through a side wall of the treating chamber. particularly illustrating the separated oil outlet.

. Fig. 4 is a similar fragmentary section through the side wall of the treating chamber, particularly illustrating the adjustable weir for discharging Fig. 6 is a similar horizontal section through the illustrating the burner arrangement.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged perspective view of the lower end of the treating chamber particularly illustrating the burner chamber and the spiral flue'encircling the wall of the treating chamber. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the flow retarding .baflles that are located in the treating chamber.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged section through one of the valves for controlling discharge of liquids from the apparatus. q

Fig. 10 is a vertical section through a modified form of the invention.

- Fig. 11 is a view of the lower end of the treating chamber, particularly illustrating a modified form of flue construction.

- Fig. 12 is a vertical section through a further modified form of apparatus wherein the treating chamber is heated by means of a steam coil encircling the wall thereof, and showing a secondary gas liberating chamber connected into the system.

Fig. 13 is a vertical section through a still further modified form of apparatus wherein the heater mechanism is omitted.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

I designates a flow treating apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention, and which is shown as including a substantially elongated cylindrical tank 2 arranged on end and having a cylindrical wall 3 closed at the ends by heads 4 and 5, the lower' end of the tank being spaced from a suitable foundation 6 by means of a base 1 comprising a cylindrical plate having its upper edge welded to the outer face of the lower head 5 and its lower edge terminating in a lateral footing flange 8. The base I provides suitable space for accommodating the burner connections 9 and I0 and a drain pipe I I having a shut-off valve l2. The upper part of the base is provided with a plurality of openings I3 through which air is passed into the bottom of a burner chamber I4.

The burner chamber I4 is formed as a lower part of a flue or hot gas passageway that is provided circumferentially of the wall 3 by an outer cylindrical wall l5 concentric with the. wall 3 and of sufficient diameter to provide an annular space l6 therebetween. The wall l5 extends below the lower end of the tank 2 and is closed by a ring I! preferably welded to the collar I at a point below the openings l3 and having its outer peripheral edge welded to the lower edge of the wall is to close the bottom of the burner chamber i4.

The portion of the wall I5 aligning with the tank 2 is covered by an insulating material I8 enclosed in an outer jacket I9 for retainingthe heat generated within the burner chamber. The upper edge of the wall i5 is closed by a cap-shaped ring 20 having its inner periphery 2| spaced from the wall 3 to provide an annular outlet 22 for spent products of combustion.

- The gas outlet 22 is protected by an inverted canopy as including a cone-shaped roof portion 24 fixed to the wall 3 and having its outer perlphery provided with a downwardly depending skirt 2! arranged with its bottom edge 24 spaced from the cap-shaped ring to provide for the gas from the outlet 22. The skirt portion of the canopy is braced from the cap ring 20 by suitable brackets "arranged in spaced relation about the periphery thereof, as best shown in Fig. 1. In order to retard movement of the hot prod-' ucts of combustion arising from the burner chamber and to retain them in heat exchanging relation with the wall I, the passageway i4 is divided by a helical Me 24 wound about the periphery of the wall 3. I

Located in the bottom of the burner chamber and spaced above the. openings it, are substantially semi-circular burner sections it and II arranged in concentric relation therewith and having slot outlets 82, the burner sections being supplied through connections 9 and II which include primary air mixing conduits II and 34 that are connected with gas supply lines II and 84 located within a compartment formed by a lateral extension of the base! and having its upper portion covered by a suitable canopy I'I cooperatingly spaced above the extension to form an air inlet It for the primary air supplied to the mixing conduits of the burner connections. with the burners and mixing conduits so housed they are shielded from high winds that might tend to The chamber 39 includes a cylindrical wall 4| having its lower end welded to the upper surface of the head 4 about a substantially semi-circular opening "therein and having its upper end closed with a head 43 to fonna fluid-tight compartment.

Liquid to be treated, including the contained gas, is delivered to the apparatus through a pipe 44 having its upper end terminating in a lateral bend 4B communicating tangentially with the wall of the chamber It so that the liquid is discharged circumferentially for spiral moveconnected with the head 4.

ment toward the opening 42. The gas is thus thoroughly scrubbed and readily separated from the liquid so that it rises toward the upper end of the chamber, for discharge through a pipe 46 connected with the chamber and extending downwardly through the head 4 into the treating tank, the pipe terminating in a lateral bend 41 opening under a gas discharge pipe 48 that is The pipe 44 extends laterally and downwardly away from the treating tank where it terminates in a lateral bend 48 that is provided with a gas pressure regulating valve 50 whereby a predetermined pressure is retained within the treating chamber. Any liquid that might be carried over with the gas can settle out in the gas and pressure equalizing space in the upper end of the treating chamber so that the gas is ordinarily entirely free of entrained liquid when it is passed out through the pipe 44.

Theflume 44 is preferably formed by a plate ii that is welded to the inner side wall of the tank 2, as at 52, and which has its opposite edge terminating in a right-angular bend II that is welded to the tank wall, as at 54, the upper 2nd of the partition being welded to the inner surface of the. head 4. The lower end of the partition terminates adjacent the bottom of the treating chamber and cooperates with a plate 56 to form a projecting outlet nozzle 46 for the outlet of liquid gravitating through the flume from the passage and the cool oil is efficiently heated enough that any gas that would be liberated in the treating chamber is, vaporized in the fiume.

'The gas upon being liberated moves upwardly through the .relatively large flume into the gas separating chamber for discharge through the pipe 48. Since the oil has been heated suillciently in the flume to vaporize the gases, there is no possibility of gas being generated within the substantially quiescent liquid undergoing treatment within the treating chamber.

The liquid, upon flowing into the treating tank, accumulates therein and is heated by the products of combustion traveling through I the tortuous passageway as provided by the spiral passageway encircling the periphery of the tank. The liquid in the treating chamber separates by gravity so that the heavier constituents, such as water, collect in the bottom of the chamber, and lighter,

such as the oil, collect above the water in theupper portion of the chamber, the level of the water in the tank being regulated by an adjustable weir 51, as now to be described.

Fixed to the inner face of the wall 3, within the upper end of the treating chamber, is a compartment 58 including spaced side walls 59 and 60 having one edge welded to the side wall of the tank and having their opposite edges connected by a plate 4|, the upper and lower ends being closed by partitions 42 and 63. Extending through the lower partition 68 is a water discharge pipe 44 having its lower end extending to' substantially the bottom of the tank and its upper end projecting within the compartment 58 and provided with a stufling box in which is slidably mounted the adjustable weir 51.

The adjustable weir includes a tube having its lower end telescoped within the pipe and having its upper end projecting into the chamber and provided with a ball 66. Fixed to the ball 66 is a rod llhaving threaded connection with aninternally threaded bearing member 68 incorpoa rated in the head 4 of the tank. The end of the rod extends outwardly through the head 4 and terminates in a crank 69 by which the 'rod may be rotated to adjusts-bly vary the height of a weir relatively to the static level of fluid carried in the treating chamber.

When the static head of fluid in the treating chamber reaches the height that balances the static head of fluid in the discharge pipe, water will be displaced through the discharge pipe and flowedover the weir 51 into the compartment 54 from where it flows through a discharge pipe III control valve 12.

valve. Normally closing the port 11 is a valve I8 8 having a stem 19 connected through a check piston 80 with a stem 8I of a diaphragm 82, the

diaphragm 82 being carried in a housing 83 formed as a part of the valve bonnet 84. The

' lower side of the diaphragm cooperates with the valve housing to form a pressure chamber that communicates with the interior of the valve through ports 86 and 81 that are provided in plates 88 and 89 which guidingly support the diaphragm stem. Mounted within the valve body and retained by the valve bonnet is a check cylinder 90 slidably supporting the check piston and the wall thereof is provided with ports 9| which complete communication between the pressure chamber 85 and the inlet side of the valve.

Located on the opposite side of the diaphragm is a coil spring 92 having one end engaging against the upper face of the diaphragm and its opposite end against an adjusting screw 93 whereby the valve is normally retained in seated position to close flow through the valve port 11. It is thus obvious that when the water flows through the pipe I0 it is normally stopped by the valve I8 so that the liquid accumulates in the delivery pipe to provide a hydrostatic head independent of the head of liquid carried in the treating chamher, the valve being so adjusted that when the hydrostatic head in the discharge pipe reaches a certain value the pressure thereof, acting on the diaphragm 82, will effect opening of the valve 18 to allow automatic discharge of the water accumulating in the pipe I0.

The check piston 80 is moved in the check cylinder responsive to opening and closing action of the valve so as to check the closing thereof and allow discharge of liquid from the pipe III. The check also prevents chattering of the valve against its seat and provides for more positive operation.

The oil accumulating in the treating tank is skimmed ofi by flowing over the rim of-a collecting box 94 having an outlet 95 connected with a discharge pipe 96. The discharge pipe 96 leads outwardly from the tank and terminates in a downward bend to form a vertical leg wherein the oil collects for the reason that flow is normally interrupted by a valve corresponding to that iilustrated in Fig. 9. When the hydrostatic'head of oil in the pipe reaches a certain value, the valve is automatically opened to allow discharge thereof and when the hydrostatic head drops below a certain value the valve automatically closes to stop flow therethrough.

In order that the valves may operate freely re-- sponsive to hydrostatic heads of fluid in their respective discharge lines, the chambers formed in the upper portion of the diaphragm housings are connected with the gas space in the treating tank by means of pipes 98 and 89 respectively, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. I

To retard travel of the liquid through the treating chamber, I provide a series of baiiies IID which are shown as including a series of inverted pans III each having side walls ,I I2 and H3 and end walls H4 and H5 connected by a top H6. The pans are carried in superimposed relation on posts Ill secured to brackets H8 connected with the wall of the tank in such position that the outlet 56 of the flume; Thebanles are arranged so that they are inclined upwardly in alternate relation so that the liquidradmitted from the flume flows upwardly to engage the upper wall of the lowermost baille and travels toward the end II6 thereof where it flows'through notches H8 and gravitates upwardly through the water. and chemical collected in the bottom of the treating chamber until stopped by the next bame, whereupon the liquid flows along the top wall thereof to the opposite end and through similar notches I26 to the next bai'lie and so on until the liquid finally passes through the notches of the top baiiie. During the retarded travel of the oil, the oil and water emulsion is broken incidental to the heat and treating chemicaL'the water remaining at the bottom oi. the treating chamber and the oil rising to the top.

As fluid rises in the chamber, the oil flows into the collection outlet and then into the discharge pipe from where it is drained periodically according to hydrostatic level therein by automatic operation of the valve 91. .Excess water accumulating in the bottom of the tank is displaced by the hydrostatic head of the water and oil through the pipe 64 and weir 51 into the chamber 58 from where it flows into the pipe III and is periodically drained therefrom by automatic operation of valve 12, as above described.

As previously pointed out, the separated gas is utilized as'a fuel for the burners, as now to be described. Connected with the gas discharge .pipe' 46 at the bend thereof is a branch pipe I2I having-a shut-off valve I22 and a pressure regulating valve I23 so that gas is delivered from the pipe 48 through the pipe I2I at a predetermined pressure. The pipe I2I extends downwardly and connects with the burner pipes 35 and 36 leading to the mixing chambers of the respective burners. Interposed in the line I2I are various fittings sueh as a screen I24 and a pressure gage I25. Also interposed in the. line is a thermostatically operated valve I26 which is actuated responsiveto temperature of the liquid contained in the treating chamber, which temperatures is transmitted to a bulb I2I having connection with the thermostat through a line I28 as in conventional thermostat construction. It is thus apparent that the thermostat may be so set that when the liquid in the treating chamber reaches a predetermined temperature the thermostat will operate to shut oil. flow of gas to the burners. However, when the temperature drops,,the thermostatic valve will automatically function to again turn on the gas which is ignited by means vided with a suitable manhole connection I33 whereby access may be had to the weir.

Fig. 10 shows a modified form of the invention wherein fluid to be treated is admitted through a pipe I35 extending downwardly through a head I36 of the treatingtank I31, which is substantially of identically the same construction as adjustable the tank in the preferred form of the invention. The pipe I35, however, extends downwardly in the tank at an incline so that'the lower end thereof terminates adjacent the center thereof and in position to discharge the liquid under a the water level with a lateral pipe I43 extending through the wall ofthe tank, the lateral pipe being provided with a shut-oi! valve I44 as controlled by a float I45 carried on the water level within the tank and having connection with the valve .through a suitable float connection indicated at I45, as in ordinary separator construc- .tion.

Connected in the side wall of the tank above the pipe I43 is an oil outlet pipe I" having a stop valve I48 therein that is opened and closed responsive, to a float I49 through a link mechanism I50. It is thus obvious that when the oil'accumulates in the tank the float rises to open the valve and allow discharge; of oil through the valve.

In this form of the invention the gas is discharged from the; upper portion of the tank through a pipe I5I that is connected to the center of the head I38. A flow of gas to the outlet. pipe is retarded by means of-a-series of baflles I52 to provide a tortuous passageway therefor so that 'any liquid carried entrained with the gas gravi tates therefrom back into the treating chamber.- The gasdischarged through the pipe I5I is, there-.

fore, comparatively dry -and free of cntained liquid. In order to equalize pressure in the pipe I35 andallow free gas to be discharged above the oil, theupper end thereof is provided with a vent pipe I53 located within the gas space of the treating chamber.

The heater flue arrangement in this form of the invention is substantially identical to that of the preferred form,-however the partitions in d the flue consist of horizontal segmental bailles I54 arranged in vertical, staggered relation so as to provide a tortuous passageway for the products of combustion, as clearly shown in Fig. 11.

The form of the invention shown'in Fig. 1 2

is substantially 'the same as that illustrated in the preferred form, however the heater construction is different in that the heat is supplied by means of a steam coil I55 wound about the lower end of thetreating tank and contained .within an insulating jacket I55. In this instance steam is supplied to the coil from a boiler (not shown) that may be supplied with fuel gas separated from the flow of liquid delivered to the treating tank in the same manner as in the preferred form of the invention.

It sometimes happens that some of the water vapor passes with the'gas to the gas outlet line or some of the condensable vapors may not condense until they leave the treating apparatus, and this vapor' accumulates in and freezes in the gas controlled valve so as to interfere with the aumeo operation thereof. In orderto prevent this dif flculty, I equip the apparatus :,with a secondary connected with a tangential inlet I59 in the sec-- gas separating chamber. connected-in series with the first chamber, as illustrated in Fig. 12. The

gas outlet I51 from the primary chamber I54 is ondaryv chamber I60 so that the gas is caused to circumvolve around the wall of the secondary chamber toeifect separation of any contained moisture. The surface of the secondary cham-f her also acts to cool and condense the condensable vapors. This moisture and condensate drains from the secondary tank into the treating cham-- her through a pipe IOI leading therefrom to a point adjacent the bottom of the treating tank.

The liquid is, therefore, conducted to the bottom of the treating .tank so that it does not interfere with the quiescent separation in the treating chamber. Gas accumulating in-the upper portion of the treating tank is delivered therefrom through a connection I52 also having a tangential inlet with the secondary tank so that any condensable liquid vapor carried with-the gas accumulating in the upper portion of the tank is caused to move'tangentially within the second separating chamber to effect its condensa ion.

The form of the invention shown in Fig. 13 is substantially the sameas thatillustrated in Fig.

l, and is used when an emulsion breaking chemical is' employed that does not require application of heat, therefore the heating equipment is not provided. The flume is different in that-it is formed by a pipe I63 projecting. downwardly within the tank and terminates in a lateral bend for discharging liquid under the banies, as in the preferred form of; the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: T

1. In an apparatus of the character described,

a treating tank having a cylindrical wall, a flume extending downwardly in the tank and having a side thereof formed as a part of said cylindricalwall, means fordelivering liquid to be treated to said tank through said flume, a burner chamber encircling the lower portion of the treating tank, a burner in said chamber, and a spiral flue connected with the burner chamber and encircling the tank for conveying, products of combustionfrom the burner in heating'relation with the wall of the tank to preliminarily heat the liquid delivered through said flume and to maintain the liquid in heated condition while undergoing treat ment in said tank.

2. In an apparatus of the character described,

a treating tank having a cylindrical wall, a flume extending downwardly in the tank andhaving a side thereof formed as a part of said cylindrical wall, means for delivering liquid to-be treatedto said tank through said flume, a burner chamber. encircling the lower portion of the treating tank, a burner in said chamber, a flue encircling the tank forconveying products of combustion from the. burner in heating relation .with the wall of the tank to preliminarily heat the liquid delivered through said flume and to maintain the liquid in heated condition while undergoing treatment in said tank, and means in said flue forming tortuous passageways for said products of combustion.

GWYN'NE RAYMOND. 

